6th grade - music requirement?

[♥ms.pacman♥]

am curious, what is the music requirement for 6th graders in your school district?

in our school district, all 6th graders are required to have music class. There are 3 options - band, orchestra, or choir.
Then in 7th and 8th grade they can continue with their instrument (or choose a new one). if in 7th grade they choose a new instrument they would be in class with mostly 6th graders (beginner level).

i thought this was a fairly common requirement, at least across Texas...especially considering how serious folks are about football games, marching band, etc. but DH was telling me that DN (who is also in 6th grade like my DS, in a different city/school district in TX) doesn't play an instrument at all (doesn't seem to have a music requirement in that grade)

wondering what is the case in your school?

i am actually glad they require music at this level and can see the reasoning for requiring it. 5 months ago, my DS was dreading taking music class and wishing he could opt out , and i admit as a parent it was a drag having to find all the items required and keep up with performance schedules. He had never played an instrument in his life. DS selected bassoon but was forced into French Horn class (his only option in band, per his schedule). Now, he can't stop playing the French Horn and is rather obsessed with playing it (finding new songs to play, etc). He even took it with him on vacation to see family so he could play it for them. He is constantly rattling on facts about it that i have no clue about (i can't play any instrument except for piano and *barely*). I can now see why it can be so beneficial to get kids exposed to learning an instrument from a young age..I am really shocked how playing music can be so therapeutic, especially for tweens, and open up new worlds for them. But it seems like it really requires $ and some sort of infrastructure to support it.

[melrose7]

When DD2 was in 6th grade there was no music requirement. You could take band, choir, both, or study hall. DD2 took both and now in 9th grade she is sticking with choir. DS is now in 6th grade and if they decide not to do band or choir they have to take a general music class for 1 trimester. That his choice. We are in WI

[twowhat?]

I WISH there was a music requirement in our district! Our 6th graders only get 2 electives, and they must have 2 years of PE to be taken in 6-7-or-8. Most kids who aren't doing athletics will choose to do PE for 6-7 grades, so that leaves them with only ONE elective.

I agree that music is so beneficial to everyone, even if you don't end up pursuing it. I think it's worth exposing all kids to learning music in middle school. I'm glad we had our kids do a few years of piano (their choice) so at least they learned a little bit about reading music and playing the piano, even if they decided they weren't interested enough to pursue it. I really wish they'd have tried out choir though - no instrument required, typically welcoming environment, etc.

[StantonHyde]

My experience is a little on the other end of the bell curve. DS went to a small Catholic school because they had the best reading specialist in town and he has dyslexia. She was amazing for him!! So no music requirement there. DD went to a Cathedral Choir School, where they are classically trained starting in kindergarten. In addition to all of the voice/singing, they are required to take 2 years of violin in 2nd and 3rd grade. Gawd, that was painful. They have class during the day, but the only way she was going to do better/pass was by getting a private lesson once a week with the teacher. I have not one musical atom in my body so I was no help. (we sent her there because she sang all.the.time and was so interested in music and we knew we didnt have the tools to help ourselves) It was a relief when it was over. But lots of kids in that school continued to play string instruments or piano. The school had an orchestra as well but that was something kids did before school on their own time. (school was K-8) They also had to take several years of music theory and Latin. The Latin has been very helpful, actually. DD wanted to learn the ukulele so I had her take a few private lessons with the music teacher at DS's school who taught regular (vs. classical) guitar and other than that, she is completely self taught. She writes and sings songs and is now teaching herself guitar. (she is now a junior in hs) Some of the kids from that school went on to pursue music careers/passions. Others just burnt out. But I still remember talking to someone who said they were really active in a church choir growing up and that's how she learned to read music and to sing. She is now the lead singer in a local funk band!!! So you never know where music can take kids. If nothing else, band can be a hobby and a chance to learn teamwork, leadership skills, etc. That's good.

[o_mom]

In 6th grade they are required to take at least one semester of music. There is a general music class if they don't do a performing art (band, orchestra, choir).

[carolinacool]

DS is in sixth grade. No music requirement in our N.C. school district. However, there could be different requirements for kids attending magnet schools.

[wencit]

California public school district here. There is no music requirement in middle school at all, nor in high school. However, we live in an area where many parents see the value of music education and can afford to buy or rent instruments, so I would say there's a good number of students who are enrolled in either band, orchestra, or choir.

[PZMommy]

There is no music requirement in 6th grade here, or even middle school in general. My son is in a STEM magnet and all of his elective choices are computer and technology based. He doesn’t even have the option to take a music class.

[JBaxter]

No there has been no music requirement in my boys middle school 2 encore/ classes. PE is scheduled unless you opt out and show they are in an outside school athletic program I was forced to take piano lessons as a child and despised them and if my boys have not wanted music lessons we didn’t force the issue. One played trombone for 2 yrs and 2 took guitar for a couple years I’m very glad it wasn’t required in their schools

[SnuggleBuggles]

No requirement but music is one of the rotation. Band, orchestra or choir isn't required at all. Those are extras. Music class is more like music theory and appreciation.
High school grad requires 2 arts or humanities classes so music is never going to be a must.
Mine does do band. In 6th grade it met weekly after school and that was a PITA for transportation. Now it is integrated into the school day. He has decided to quit though because he doesn't like how no one is taking it seriously enough.

[gatorsmom]

Our small private Catholic school requires Schola/choir singing elementary through middle school but no requirements for instruments. There is a teacher offering private piano and guitar lessons after school but that’s optional.

[pinay]

Our district (in CA) doesn't require music, but band and choir are electives offered at the middle school level. At many of the middle schools, they're really the only options, other than ASB/student government. Most of our elementary schools have 5th grade music programs but it's more of a supplement rather than a class- traveling teachers go to each school so they probably get instruction once every other week.

[mom_hanna]

We have this same exact music requirement in our public schools. My dd missed it as we were abroad her 6th grade year and I'm still sad about it. ds took an instrument and while he has switched instruments multiple times, he loves it. He is a freshman now and is in marching band, regular band, and mutliple choirs. He found his passion because of the music requirement.

[doberbrat]

String lessons start in Grade 3 here and band instruments in grade 4. The classes are taught in school and families rent instruments - if they cant there is a pool of loaners for kids. I'd say 1/2 of students are playing an instrument by grade 3.

In MS you must take 1+ semester of music, drama and art. Music can be band, orchestra, chorus or general music. Most kids take music in 6th because in 7/8 you take languages, which cuts down on the elective slots available.

DD2 is taking band, orchestra, drama & PE right now. Because she plays the flute & the violin, she alternates between band & orchestra classes. There is no substituting sports for PE here.

[essnce629]

CA here and zero music requirement in middle or high school. I wish there was.

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[♥ms.pacman♥]

thanks all for the replies! ok looks like my DH is right, our school district must just be the oddball that requires music for 6th grade.


I WISH there was a music requirement in our district! Our 6th graders only get 2 electives, and they must have 2 years of PE to be taken in 6-7-or-8. Most kids who aren't doing athletics will choose to do PE for 6-7 grades, so that leaves them with only ONE elective.




Interesting! I guess our district is super strict. PE is required for 6th grade. As is music. And math, social studies, science, and English/literacy. So they don't get any electives at all for 6th grade (they have 6 classes, where literacy/English is a double-period). I think for 7th grade they get one elective. Our district is well known for being tiger-parent central (lol), though many parents do complain the kids don't get enough homework. LOL

I agree exposure to music is beneficial even if they don't end up pursuing it. DD has done piano since she was 4 bc her daycare (Primrose) offered lessons once a week during the day, and then she liked her teacher so she continued it (I think she liked it mainly bc she had the same teacher who is very friendly and not super strict or demanding, and made it a fun class). DS never had any interest in any music whatsoever so we didn't push it. If he hadn't been forced to take music in school, he would have never in a million years took French horn classes. He didn't want to do band, but it was his only option given the choices and schedule. He didn't want to do orchestra, and he would rather walk over hot coals than do choir (even though one of his BFFs was taking it)..lol.

I swear I am the total opposite of a tiger parent...and I HATE the idea of forcing kids into lessons they don't want, as i do think it can create resentment (this is why my kids can't speak Spanish at all, and only speak English, much to our dismay). but now with DS's first year in middle school i now have 2 data points showing that sometimes forcing a kid into doing something can end up being really beneficial (first was going to a new middle school for a math program, second was this French horn and music which he is now obsessed with). i guess it depends on the kid though. i don't think this approach would work on my DD. My DS though, seems like he needs to be forced to try new things otherwise he would never do anything new.

[ett]

In 6th grade kids have to choose between band, orchestra, and chorus. So basically any kid who doesn't play a band/strings instrument has to choose chorus. There is also a music requirement in 7th and 8th grade, but I think there might be a music theory class option in addition to band/orchestra/chorus. Both my kids did orchestra, so I'm not clear on other choices. There is also a PE requirement for every grade in middle and high school.

[Kindra178]

We just have traditional music class, one quarter a year for 6-8. No requirement to play an instrument or participate in choir.


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[KrisM]

In 6th grade here, they have to have an "arts" class. It can be art, band, orchestra, choir, or theater. In 7th and 8th, it continues to be required but you can change between them. My kids all took band and DD also took orchestra. DS2 wasn't sure about band, but I strongly encouraged him to try with the promise if he didn't like it, he could stop after a year. He loves it and plans to continue through high school as well.

[Tenasparkl]

In sixth grade here they offer a elective “wheel” where you take different classes every ten weeks to explore what you want to take in the future - art, cooking, music/choir, beginning band, computer lab etc. You can also just immediately start with band in 6th. Choir is a big thing our district so many choose that for seventh and eighth grade. My DD is currently in choir and they’ve got tons of performances (including a trip to Washington DC) competitions and a Disneyland performance.

[Tenasparkl]

In sixth grade here they offer a elective “wheel” where you take different classes every ten weeks to explore what you want to take in the future - art, cooking, music/choir, beginning band, computer lab etc. You can also just immediately start with band in 6th. Choir is a big thing our district so many choose that for seventh and eighth grade. My DD is currently in choir and they’ve got tons of performances (including a trip to Washington DC) competitions and a Disneyland performance.

[lizzywednesday]

am curious, what is the music requirement for 6th graders in your school district?...

There's a statewide standard (https://www.state.nj.us/education/modelcurriculum/vpa/m/) that children in elementary school (K-5) learn the basics of music and visual arts, and a vague standard that students begin to specialize starting in 6th grade (https://www.artsednj.org/september-forward/) so that they may develop a greater competency to communicate in their chosen art form by 8th grade. Requirements, such as minimum credits required for graduation, only begin in high school.

DD wanted more than anything to sign up for Band, but DH never authorized renting an instrument (which, in a pandemic, feels really risky to us) or committing her to in-school band classes & instruction. She wants to play flute. (I want earplugs.)

Students who want to do music performance in middle school have to choose either band or chorus; they cannot select both. (Personally, I think this is unfair to students who are adept in both instrumental & vocal performance.) I've tried to encourage chorus, thinking that the increased attention to diction & articulation will help DD progress in spontaneous speech, as well as in the therapy room, but I am biased - I've been a chorister in some way, shape, or form since I was 14 years old. It's brought me opportunities, such as the chance to perform as a "hired ringer" at Carnegie Hall three times as an adult, and joy in many phases of my life.

[acmom]

In our public school district, all kids take general music through grade 6 and after that it is an elective. Additional music choices start in 4th grade with optional strings instrumental lessons/orchestra and expanding to band options in 5th. Chorale is an option in the activities period starting in 5th and then as an elective in the schedule starting in 7th. Studio music is also an option starting in 8th which is a double period class. In high school, I think students are required to have 1 credit of music/art for graduation and there are tons of music options that meet that. Many students that are into music take multiple music electives throughout high school plus participate in extra curricular music.

Of my 2 kids that are old enough, both tried instrumental music for 1-2 years, but it wasn't their thing. I was really glad they had that experience and option to try it through school. Both my kids gravitate more towards athletics for extracurricular activities and art/tech stuff for electives. Our school district has SO many music options (which I think is great!)...but I wish they had more in the other areas to match that.

[doberbrat]

DD wanted more than anything to sign up for Band, but DH never authorized renting an instrument (which, in a pandemic, feels really risky to us) or committing her to in-school band classes & instruction. She wants to play flute. (I want earplugs.)


fwiw, the kids in band wear a special instrument mask and there is some sort of a sock that goes on the end of the instrument... for whenever they play inside. many of their lessons continue to be outside for safety. String instruments definitely feels safer but dd2 was adamant she wanted to do both. She even got a free loaner flute from the school as a rental isnt in our budget.

[kristenk]

Other end of the metroplex here and no music requirement in 6th grade. Music classes start in 6th grade but there's no requirement.

[lizzywednesday]

fwiw, the kids in band wear a special instrument mask and there is some sort of a sock that goes on the end of the instrument... for whenever they play inside. many of their lessons continue to be outside for safety. String instruments definitely feels safer but dd2 was adamant she wanted to do both. She even got a free loaner flute from the school as a rental isnt in our budget.

I know what they're doing to reduce transmission w/r/t instrument "masks" and I'm OK with it, especially if it means they get to have band at all. As a chorister, I know that there are chorus masks (https://www.concertattire.com/product_p/mas-1801.htm) available, which have construction features that make it easier to sing while still masking up. I'd consider purchasing some for myself, but I don't know that I'll be singing any time soon.

What wigs us out is borrowed or rented equipment of any type, in a pandemic, for our child who has a heart defect and who was not eligible for the vaccine until 3rd November.

We simply cannot trust that loaned or rented instruments have been sanitized in such a way that makes us comfortable. Our risk calculus differs from many families', plus DH is severely germ-phobic, so trying to get through that and still sign her up in time was impossible.

[mom2binsd]

Our district offered either Chorus or Band or Study Hall when the kids went to Jr. High. In elementary school they had Music class 2/3 x week, while still at elementary school they offered 5th graders Band, they bussed the kids to the Jr. High at the end of the elementary day (there was still time left in the Jr. High day).

Neither of my kids have any interest in music so they both chose Study Hall in Jr. High.

[carolinamama]

Music is a required special in the elementary grades - K-5. Starting in 6th, it becomes an elective. Students can choose band or chorus in middle schools as an elective. In most district non-magnet middle schools, students only choose one elective per semester since PE/health is required all year. Band runs all year so no other electives are possible for those students. It would be great if all students could have more exposure to music.

Our younger two choose between band and chorus/drama starting in 5th grade at their private school. DS is in 7th this year and has no music for the first time since he's not in band. DD chose the music/chorus/drama path so no instruments for us. She is learning to read music and will learn a simple song on the piano by the end of the year. As a mom who formally played the piano and violin until I left for college, it makes me slightly sad no one chose band but we let them all choose for themselves.

[o_mom]

What wigs us out is borrowed or rented equipment of any type, in a pandemic, for our child who has a heart defect and who was not eligible for the vaccine until 3rd November.

We simply cannot trust that loaned or rented instruments have been sanitized in such a way that makes us comfortable. Our risk calculus differs from many families', plus DH is severely germ-phobic, so trying to get through that and still sign her up in time was impossible.

Just in case anyone else is worried about this... We know that transmission via surfaces is very rare, mainly due to the limited lifespan of the virus on surfaces (99% gone in 3 days). If this is a concern, it would be really simple to just let the instrument sit for a week before using it.

[klwa]

No specific music requirement here in NC that I know of. DD1 has been in band & chorus since 6th grade. DS took a semester long music class in 8th grade that was *sort of* chorus but didn't have any concert requirements as part of the "So you haven't chosen a specialty" specials classes.

[lizzywednesday]

Just in case anyone else is worried about this... We know that transmission via surfaces is very rare, mainly due to the limited lifespan of the virus on surfaces (99% gone in 3 days). If this is a concern, it would be really simple to just let the instrument sit for a week before using it.

It's less the surface-contamination and more any chance of residual saliva in valves & keys that grosses DH out.

When it comes to his particular flavor of germ-phobia, it's challenging to get him to think things through rationally.